Now, sacred tree illegally trimmed at bhandara hills

Warkaris up in arms against sacrilege to a tree under which Sant Tukaram is fabled to have sat and written his abhangs; action demanded against trust in complaints to charity commissioner, district collector

After recent reports of a threat to protected monuments and eco-sensitive zones of Bhandara and Bhamchandra Dongar — heritage sites in the Maval and Khed talukas, associated with 17th century spiritual leader Sant Tukaram — yet another major violation has been unearthed amid the green climes of the Bhandara hillock, causing a fresh uproar among devotees.

Now, the temple trust that administers to the pilgrimage site has been accused of profusely trimming the sacred, 400-year-old Nandurki tree last week, without any nod from the authorities to do this work. Further, allegations have flown that this trimming took place to create space for proposed construction work, adding insult to injury.

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The tree is revered as the spot where Tukaram frequently sat to write his widely-loved abhangs (devotional poetry).

In fact, it is considered by members of the warkari sect as a replica of the Bodhi Vriksha (the tree under which Gautam Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment).

Outraged by the latest transgression, the warkaris as well as locals of the spot have raised a complaint with the charity commissionerate, demanding that legal action be initiated against the trustees.

As per their plaint, the ancient tree, which is part of a protected monument and shrine, has been cut down by a huge degree. Further, this unscientific trimming allegedly took place to level the land out for proposed construction activities on the hill.

In June this year, Pune Mirror had reported that government agencies had similarly allowed construction, mining, as well as heavy industrial work on the slopes of the holy hills.

Now, with regard to the most recent breach, Prahar Sanghatana president Sudhir Ramchandra Karale has complained to the charity commissioner as well as the district collector, calling for all trustees of the Vitthal-Rukmini-Sant Tukaram Maharaj Bhandara Dongar Trust to be booked under section 295 (injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult religion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The application states, “The tree, which should have stayed unharmed due to its sacred status, has been cut using an electric axe, which is against the rules. No formal permission was sought for this from the charity commissioner. This act has hurt the sentiments of lakhs of warkaris. The great Sant Tukaram wrote his abhangs under the Nandurki tree. Pilgrims visit this spot every year. Now, it has been hacked just to construct some building on the hill… The current trust is functioning illegally despite it being appointed just temporarily a year ago. Their act is a criminal offence, and also against the teachings of the Sant, who guided the people to conserve nature.”

Elaborating on these points to Mirroron Sunday, Karale alleged, “The current trust has no connection with the sentiments of the warkaris. They are destroying the environment in the name of construction. Earlier as well, ancient temples of Sant Tukaram had been demolished by these trustees.”

Supporting this stand, Santbhumi Sanrakshak Sangharsh Samiti — another warkari organisation — also rallied for action against the trust. Representative Madhusudan Maharaj Patil said, “This tree holds the status of the Bodhi Vriksha for us. And, the trust that damaged it had been dissolved in the past over irregularities.

Now, they are engaged in anti-warkari activities again. They are not authorised to carry out any development work, especially not by destroying precious heritage. We want an indepth inquiry into these activities by the district collector.” He added that besides this, their organisation is also fighting the fact that the government has partially revoked the eco-sensitive status accorded to both the holy hillocks. But, refuting all these accusations, trust president Balasaheb Kashid told Mirror,“We are constructing a huge temple of Sant Tukaram on this hill. It will be as huge as the Akshardham Temple.

The trimming of the Nandurki tree was to strengthen its roots and balance the structure. We trimmed it by taking the help of experts, using used concrete and soil around it. Our aim is to preserve it — not to destroy it. These allegations being made are just out of jealousy. Our trust is legal and functioning as per the directions of the charity commissionerate.” However, Kashid admitted that none of the mandatory permissions were taken before the trimming was done.

Acknowledging receipt of the complaint made by the devotees, an official attached with the charity commissioner’s office shared on the condition of anonymity, “The trustees will now be summoned to the site, where our inspector will also make a visit.”

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